Method of making cornices



(No Model.)

W. R. KINNEAR.

METHOD. OF MAKING commas. N0. 443,453. Patented Dec. 23, 1,890.

.ziilowzeyi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM R. KINNEAR, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

METHOD OF MAKING CORNICES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. &43,453, dated December 23, 1890.

Application filed January 11, 1390. Serial No. 336,639. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM R. KINNEAR,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Oornices, of which the following is a full and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in metallic ceilings, and more especially to the method of forming the cornices therefor; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts, as hereinafter fully set forth in the description and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the cornice. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 0c :20. Fig. 3 is a modified form of the invention in section, and Fig. at is an end View of the cornice-pieces.

The class of cornices which is contemplated by this invention are generally turned out at the factory in length sections, usually quite short for the convenience of shipment. These lengths, as heretofore applied to a building orstructure, have had their adjoining edges brought close together, and in that position rigidly secured to a strap which lapped over the ends of the sections at the rear of the cornice, or the ends have been covered by a face band or bracket. The former of these methods allows for no movement on the part of the metal composing the cornice to accommodate the strain in the action of expansion and contraction to which it is subject, andin consequence thereof the joints are torn apart and present an uncomely appearance. The latter of these methods necessitates a band or bracket at each juncture of the lengths, which. when, as above mentioned, the lengths are short, presents in the finished cornice an array of brackets that gives to the entire job an appearance of weight undesirable and illappearing. It is the object of the present invention to obviate these objections by forming a cornice-joint that will allow for the movement in the metal incident to the expansion and contraction of the same, while preserving a practically tight and close joint at the meeting ends, and which will not necessitate theme of the face band of bracket above mentioned.

The letter A designates in the drawings the lengths or sections of which the cornice is composed. At the one end is formed the groove B and at the other the extension B, both set back from the face of the cornice. At the points where the metal is set back to form the groove and extension are formed the shoulders O, which are shaped to produce a close joint when placed together, as shown at Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. For convenience in the operation of applying this cornice to the structure, I have provided the guide-extension D, protruding beyond the shoulder O and leading into the groove B. This operation of applying this cornice is the same as in that having the face bands or brackets in so far as the upper and lower edges are fastened to the building structure to which it is being applied, either mediately or immediately, and in successive lengths. In this present construction after one length is secured in position the extension 15 of the succeeding length is placed against the guide-extension D of the other and forced along it into the groove 13 until the shoulders O abut, when it in turn is secured to the structure, and so on until the entire cornice is suspended. The joints A in the cornice by this construction are close; but being formed by shoulders they are not what is termed ragged joints. For the purpose, however, of rendering the joints more imperceptible they are filled before being painted with a mastic filling E. When now painted, the cornice presents a flush surface throughout its entire length and obviates the objection caused by the multiplicity of face bands or brackets above mentioned.

Further, in the action of expansion and contraction above referred to, which is sufficiently strong to break a rigid joint, the amplitude of its movement is not sufficient to open the joints to such an extent as to be perceptible from any distance-as that from the floor of a room to the corniceand as the said amplitude is proportioned to the length of the separate pieces this opening is diminished by the use of the short lengths above referred to, and therefore by this joint the gaping of the edges incident to the first of the prior methods above mentioned is obviatcd. To form these cornice lengths the metal is cut into blanks of the required size, the

ends of which are then bent to form the groove 13 and extension 13, as shown at Fig. :2 of the drawings. The metal is now stamped or otherwise formed to the desired lines of profile or section. In corniccs generally there is provided a cove, either convex or concave, which causes a variation in the lengths of the different parts of the metal forming the joint according to its distance from the center from which the curve of such cove is struck. In the present construction this variation causes a crowding or drawing of the parts forming the groove 13 against the metal forming the face of the cornice. If this was not prevented, the sides of the parts here shown as forming a groove would form so close a joint, by reason of the crowding above mentioned, as to render it impossible to insertbetween them the extension B. I remedy this difliculty by inserting a piece of metal or any other desirable flexible material of the required thickness into the groove prior to forming the cornice, whereby when the metal is formed up the parts at the back are forced to How or accommodate themselves to the curve necessary to form the groove without crowding against the metal forming j the face of the cornice. Vhen the cornice lengths are thus formed, the piece is withdrawn, leaving the groove. Another means i I use is to open the groove after the cornice lengths are formed by driving a wedge be- 1 tween the parts forming the groove, while I holding the metal forming the face of the cor- 1 nice from beingjannnedoutof shape. \Yhile j either of these methods may be used in the manufacture of these cornice lengths I prefer the following method of forming both the I groove 13 and extension 13' at one and the same operation; and while I recognize that these lengths may be formed with the ordinary brake I prefer to describe the operation as it takes place when using a stamp and dies, which is is as follows: The lengths are, after the ends 5 are forn1ed,as above described, joined and i half of the length passed under the stamp at 1 each operation. By this means the joined ends are stamped at the same time and the thickness of the accumulated metal at that point is accommodated by a groove in the die, into which it is driven. The edge of the groove in the die and the shoulder C, formed i by the bonded metal of B co-operate to form and maintain the shoulder c on the end with the extension 13, while the said extension prevents the sides of the groove B from being forced together and forming a closejoint. After the lengths have passed through the above-described operation they are drawn apart, leaving the groove B open and the extension 13 well formed.

In the drawings at Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of the cornice lengths, which I sometimes prefer. In it the part forming the groove 1:3 is made up separately with the flange B, by means of which the said part is socured to the cornice lengths A.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The process of formingmetallic ceilings and corniccs therefor, consisting in preparing blanks by turning the end to form a groove adapted to receive a thickness of metal, bending the said prepared blanks to the desired profile, and wedging the metal forming the groove to force itto the required shape to produce the groove without changing the corn ice-line of the said blanks where such grooves occur, substantially as shown and described.

2. The process of forming metallic ceilings and corniccs therefor, consisting in preparing blanks by turning the ends to form a groove adapted to receive a thickness of metal, inserting in such groove a thickness of flexible material adapted to maintain the groove under pressure, bending the blanks so prepared to the desired profile, and then withdrawing the said flexible material, substantially as shown and described, whereby an open groove is formed conforming to the profile of the completed cornice.

3. The process of forming metallic ceilings and corniccs therefor, consisting in preparing blanks by turning one end to form a groove adapted to receive a thickness of metal, inserting the end not provided with a groove of one blank into the groove of another, and bending the blanks so joined to the desired profile, and then withdrawing the first-named end, substantially as shown and described.

4. The process of forming metallic ceilings and corniccs therefor, consisting in preparing blanks by turning the one end to form a groove adaptedto receive a thickness of metal and turning the other to form an extension B, set back from the face of the blank, inserting the extension 13 of one blank into the groove of another, and bending the blanks so joined to the desired profile, and then withdrawing the first-nained end, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of December, A. I). 1889.

ILLLUI R. KINNEAR.

'itnesses:

R. H. KINNEAR, A. N. \Ztx DEHAN. 

